Product Ratings (No Rating)

Choose How Many Stars (5 Being the best)

Description

MY TAKE:You know the question; “What system would you choose if you were banished to a desert island, with no possibility of changing anything.” For me, that system would begin with Convergent Audio Technology electronics. C.A.T. has consistently made class-leading tube electronics that many feelhave no peer in the industry, and I can’t argue with that. My experience has been that the C.A.T. gear sounds great - regardless of the system - and their amplifiers drive difficult loads like no other tube amps I’ve encountered (CAT used MBL speakers at a CES to prove the point). Mr. Stevens' products not only sound incredible, those interested in specifications will be blown away by the numbers. In the of the preamps, some of the lowest noise and distortion figures of any preamp - even solid state! – Galen Carol

Philosophy -

CAT’s philosophy is to design our products to neither add to, nor detract from, the music. We never attempt to cover up a design problem with another problem, nor do we try to introduce a supposedly complementary problem to “synergize” with it. Two wrongs do not make a right. Only the eradication of the problem is correct.

The SL1 Legend is the product of relentless refinement to the original SL1 introduced in 1985. We have identified and eliminated every electronic artifact. This preamplifier is designed to allow the best systems to reach their fullest potential.

Power Supply -

External power supply chassis contains the transformer’s magnetic field eliminating it as a source of hum.

Rectification, initial regulation, and noise filtering are all performed in the EPS thereby delivering pure quiet DC power into the main chassis.

Isolation transformer eliminates entry of radio frequency noise through the AC power line yielding greater benefits than any of the expensive add-on power line conditioners without any of their sonic shortcomings.

Circuitry -

Pure Tube circuitry for vibrant and natural music.

Extraordinarily quiet high gain phono amp accommodates both high and low output cartridges.

Fastest tube preamplifier, without any of the high frequency circuit-induced edginess which slower preamps frequently substitute for real speed. This speed is maintained even into long runs of cable.

Lowest open loop distortion of any preamp yields unforced detail and resolution which must be heard to be believed.

Low feedback ratios eliminate the aggressiveness of high feedback designs and yet still maintain correct focus.

Soundstage:“ Convergent Audio Technology’s low profile belies the state-of-the-art sonic performance of its products, which are the outgrowth of the energy and astute hearing of Ken Stevens. I’ve now heard three of Ken’s products – he currently makes four – and each has impressed me with the way it gets the best out of its tube-based circuits while displaying none of the drawbacks that lesser products can do. I raved about the SL-1 Ultimate Mk 2 preamp and the JL2 Signature Mk 2 amp, but the SL1 Legend goes beyond them, not only its execution but in its performance as well. There is honesty, beauty and authority in the Legend’s sound, and seemingly in equal parts. Yet, as Ken Stevens espouses, it’s the cumulative effect of a lot of things that make the Legend wat it is.

“Given its many and varied strengths, the CAT SL1 Legend is the finest preamp I’ve had in my system. If it takes years of tinkering to produce a preamp like this one, so be it. Greatness, as they say, can’t be rushed.“ – Mark Mickelson

Specifications -

Gain (@1kHz): Line 25.8 dB (“high”) / 15.2 dB (“low”),

Phono 47dB MM / 58 dB MC (low) / 64dB MC (high)

Gain Tracking: Line .05dB, Phono .05dB

Frequency Response: Line 0.1Hz to 1.5 MHz+0, -3dB

Phono RIAA +/- 0.05dB 20Hz to 20kHz (MC & MM)

Harmonic Distortion (@ 1 volt): Line less than .0001%

Phono less than .0005%

Slew Rate: Line 15 volts/microsec, Phono 10 volts/microsec

Maximum Output (@1kHz): Line & phono 50 volts rms

Input Overload: Line 1000 volts rms

Phono MM 250 mv rms at 1kHz, MC 70 mv rms

Noise: Line High 98 dBA, Low 109 dBA below2 volt output

Phono MM 99 dBA below 10 mv input

MC(low) 110 dBA, MC high 116 dbA below 10mv input

Separation: Line greater than 100 dB

Phono greater than 100 dB

Input Impedance: Line 50 kohms, 20pf

Phono 47.5 kohms, 180 pf (user adjustable)

MC low 8 ,000 ohms, MC high 2,000 ohms

Output Impedance: Line 100 ohms, Phono 50 ohms

Maximum Load: Line under 4000 pf, over 5000 ohms

Phono under 4000 pf, over 10,000 ohms

Dimensions: Main Chassis - 19.0” X 5.24” X 12.2”

Power Supply - 12,2” X 4.0” X 6.0”

Weight: Net 80 lbs., Ship 85 lbs.

Power Requirements: 120v, 60Hz, 80 watts (export version available)

Product Ratings

Average Rating

Choose How Many Stars (5 Being the best)

Description

MY TAKE:You know the question; “What system would you choose if you were banished to a desert island, with no possibility of changing anything.” For me, that system would begin with Convergent Audio Technology electronics. C.A.T. has consistently made class-leading tube electronics that many feelhave no peer in the industry, and I can’t argue with that. My experience has been that the C.A.T. gear sounds great - regardless of the system - and their amplifiers drive difficult loads like no other tube amps I’ve encountered (CAT used MBL speakers at a CES to prove the point). Mr. Stevens' products not only sound incredible, those interested in specifications will be blown away by the numbers. In the of the preamps, some of the lowest noise and distortion figures of any preamp - even solid state! – Galen Carol

Philosophy -

CAT’s philosophy is to design our products to neither add to, nor detract from, the music. We never attempt to cover up a design problem with another problem, nor do we try to introduce a supposedly complementary problem to “synergize” with it. Two wrongs do not make a right. Only the eradication of the problem is correct.

The SL1 Legend is the product of relentless refinement to the original SL1 introduced in 1985. We have identified and eliminated every electronic artifact. This preamplifier is designed to allow the best systems to reach their fullest potential.

Power Supply -

External power supply chassis contains the transformer’s magnetic field eliminating it as a source of hum.

Rectification, initial regulation, and noise filtering are all performed in the EPS thereby delivering pure quiet DC power into the main chassis.

Isolation transformer eliminates entry of radio frequency noise through the AC power line yielding greater benefits than any of the expensive add-on power line conditioners without any of their sonic shortcomings.

Circuitry -

Pure Tube circuitry for vibrant and natural music.

Extraordinarily quiet high gain phono amp accommodates both high and low output cartridges.

Fastest tube preamplifier, without any of the high frequency circuit-induced edginess which slower preamps frequently substitute for real speed. This speed is maintained even into long runs of cable.

Lowest open loop distortion of any preamp yields unforced detail and resolution which must be heard to be believed.

Low feedback ratios eliminate the aggressiveness of high feedback designs and yet still maintain correct focus.

Soundstage:“ Convergent Audio Technology’s low profile belies the state-of-the-art sonic performance of its products, which are the outgrowth of the energy and astute hearing of Ken Stevens. I’ve now heard three of Ken’s products – he currently makes four – and each has impressed me with the way it gets the best out of its tube-based circuits while displaying none of the drawbacks that lesser products can do. I raved about the SL-1 Ultimate Mk 2 preamp and the JL2 Signature Mk 2 amp, but the SL1 Legend goes beyond them, not only its execution but in its performance as well. There is honesty, beauty and authority in the Legend’s sound, and seemingly in equal parts. Yet, as Ken Stevens espouses, it’s the cumulative effect of a lot of things that make the Legend wat it is.

“Given its many and varied strengths, the CAT SL1 Legend is the finest preamp I’ve had in my system. If it takes years of tinkering to produce a preamp like this one, so be it. Greatness, as they say, can’t be rushed.“ – Mark Mickelson